The prominent discourse associated with Operation Dudula and Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX) is normally understood under the pretext of xenophobic violence or Afrophobia. This discourse seems to perceive these two organizations as opposing binaries, where Operation Dudula is perceived as xenophobic while KAAX is anti-xenophobic, which this chapter argues is ‘myopic’. Such a contrasting binary tends to erroneously exalt the latter as sympathetic to the wellbeing of humanity while the former is undermined as selfishly looking out for itself despite other groups’ plight. This chapter seeks to argue that both positions are relatively flawed and lacks sufficient critical depth as they intentionally exalt their ideological beliefs over ‘real issues’, that is, the genuine plight of the poor ‘native foreigners’.  This chapter unapologetically perceives the positions taken by these organizations as ‘misleading’ in as far as genuine dialogue is concerned since they seek to take an uncompromisingly opposing stance.  The chapter understands these two organizations as too proud to acknowledge that there is ‘reason’ in what their opposing counterpart is saying hence they intentionally choose to defy any hope of a true Pan-African dialogue.

Speaker: Dr Stephen Phiri-Stephen Phiri is currently a Postdoctoral Research fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS). He holds a BA in Philosophy, A master’s degree in Policy and Development, and a PhD in Education and Development. His doctoral studies were sponsored by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) in partnership with the National Institute for Humanities and Social Science (NIHSS). His research specifically focuses on Africa and the Post-colonial state.

Discussant: Dr Sizo Nkala: Sizo Nkala is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research interests are China-Africa relations in the technology, media and economic spheres, African political-economy, immigration, and global politics.

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